Lock



G. A. LONG June 14, 1932.

LOCK

Filed July 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet June 14, G. A. LONG LOCK Fil uly 5.1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ta/PNEY Patented June 14, 1932 TBS PATENF GEORGEALEXANDER LONG, OF HARTFORD, CCNNECTIOUT, ASSIGLQ'OB :10 THE LONG ISECURITY LOCK COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CSNNECTXCUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT LOCK Application filed July 3, 1929. Serial No. 375,643.

My invention relates to that class of key operated locks that areemployed to secure the doors or other closures of compartments ofvarious kinds, my improved lock being particularly applicable inconnection with the doors of safe deposit boxes and similar compartmentsfound in banks and other depositories, and an object of my invention,among others, is the production of a lock in which the mechanism may bereadily changed to prevent its operation by a key formerly employed inthe lock, and to so safeguard such operation as to prevent anysurreptitious or unauthorized change or changes from being made.

One form of a lock embodying my invention, and in the construction anduse of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may beattained, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1is a face view of my improved lock showing a two-part key inserted andin its initial position, but with such key cut oil on a plane denoted bythe dotted line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a side view showingthe key in the initial position as inFigure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear view.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the two-part keyturned to its unlocking position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing one of the keymembers removed.

Figure 6 is an edge view of the lock showing one key member in itsunlocking position in the key center and the other key member insertedthrough the back face of the lock to release the key center forpositioning for a change of keys.

Figure 7 is a rear view showing the parts in the position of Figures 5and 6, the key being cut off near the case.

Figure 8 is a front view of the lock showing the key center in positionto permit removal of the key member projecting from the front of thecase and to permit insertion of a differently bitted key member therebyto effect a change in tumbler combination.

Figure 9 is a rear view with the parts in the same position as in Figure8, the key being out oif.

Figure 10 is a front view of the lock with the front face plate removed,the parts being e in normal locking condition.

Figure 11 is a similar View, but with the parts in unlocked condition,but with one key member omitted.

Figure 12 is another similar View showing the parts in releasedcondition for a change of key member.

Figure 13 is a view in lengthwise section on a plane denoted by thedotted line 1313 of Figure 10 with both key members in position tounlock the lock.

Figure 14 is a similar View of a portion of the lock substantially on aplane denoted by the dotted line 1414 of Figure 12, but with one keymember inserted into the back ofthe lock and the mechanism releasedthereby to permit a change of key combination.

This invention relates more particularly, as hereinbefore stated, tomeans for changing the tumblers so that they may be operated bydifierent keys, the present invention, in fact, being an improvement onthat illustrated and described in my co-pending application filedNovember 18, 1927, of Serial Number 234,257, the lock mechanism beingsubstantially the same in both instances and the difference residingmainly in the devices for holding the members while a change is beingeffected. For this reason a brief description only of the lockmechanism, as such, is given herein.

In the accompanying drawings the numeral 15 denotes the case of myimproved lock, that may be of ordinary form, with a plug or key center16 therein having a key opening or slot 17 for the reception of a key.This plug or key center is rotatably mounted and extends into anescutcheon 18 on the face of the lock. A set of holes for the members 19of a set of pin tumblers is formed in the key center, said membersacting in connection with another set 20 of pin tumblers to release thekey center under the action of a proper key and permit said center to berotated. The members 20 are located in a block 21 secured Within the keycase,

said block having a circular recess to permit rotation of the plug orkey center. These tumblers will be actuated or positioned by notches onone edge of a key in a manner common to looks of this type.

The opposite edge of said key is properly notched to engage and positionleaf tumblers 22 pivotally mounted in the case and having notches intheir ends to register with and receive fingers 23 projecting from a setof guards 24 'slidably mounted in the case upon a locking bolt 25.

When the key is inserted to its proper position in the key center thenotches on one edge will position the pin tumblers 19 and 20 so that theline of division between them will register with the wall 26 of therecess in the block 21 hereinbefore referred to. This will release thekey center so that it may be rotated by force applied to the key, and inthis rotation the angular notches on the opposite edge of the key willengage the tumblers 22 and position them, as shown in Figure 11, so thatthe notches in the ends thereof will register with the fingers 23. Aftersuch positioning of the leaf tumblers, and in the rotation of the plugor key center, a lug 27 on said center will engage a notch 28 in theedge of the bolt, thereby moving the bolt backwardly, entering thefingers 23 within the notches in the leaf tumblers and releasing thedoor or other device to which the lock is attached, this position of thelock members being shown in Figure 11 of the drawings.

All of the parts thus far described will be found in my co pendingapplication hereinbefore mentioned, and therefore, of themselves, formno part of the present invention. I have also shown a two-part key, andwhile this, of itself, is made the subject matter of other applicationsfiled by me, it is also made use of in connection with mechanism now tobe described to carry the present invention into eifect.

This two-part key comprises a plug controlling member 29 and a boltcontrolling member 30 which for convenience of description may be termedrespectively custodian and owner parts, the former being retained by thecustodian of the compartment or box and the latter being retained by theowner or lessee of such compartment or box. These two key parts may beremovably united in any suitable manner, but in such way as to permitremoval of one part while the other part is retained in the lock.

My improved lock comprises two notches 31 oppositely arranged in theedge of the escutcheon 18 to receive the extreme opposite edges of twokey parts or members. This permits insertion of the key to a point tolocate retaining notches 32 near the inner end of the blade of each keymember opposite a retaining lip 33 forming the bounding edge of the holeinto the end of the escutch-.

eon. This location of the key positions the pin tumblers 192O to enablethe plug 16 to be turned in a clockwise direction with the mechanism asarranged herein. Such turning movement will operate the leaf tumblers22, and the parts cooperating therewith, and the bolt 25 will bewithdrawn in a manner as hereinbefore described.

A support 35 for a stop 36, in the form of a tooth projecting from thesupport, is movably mounted in a recess in that edge of the block 21opposite the tumblers 20. This support is yieldingly mounted as by meansof stems 37 seated against springs located in holes extending from thebottom of the recess in the block 21, said springs being retained by acap covering the holes and the springs thereby holding the support inits normal position, and as shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings.

lVhen the key center or plug 16 has been turned to locate the bolt 25 inits unlocked position, as just described, a tumbler retaining rib 38 inwhich the tumblers 19 are located on said plug is moved into contactwith the stop 36, as shown in Fig. 11, and further rotation of the keycenter in this direction is prevented. In this position the key partsare located as shown in F ig. 4, in which position the plug controllingpart 29 of the key is located opposite a releasing notch 39 in theescutcheon. In this position of the parts the key opening or groove inthe plug 16 will register with a receiving notch 40 for the plugcontrolling member or key in the rear face of the lock, as shown in Fig.7. The plug controlling part 29 of the key may now be removed from thelock, this construction, as hereinbefore remarked, being such as toenable it to be separated from its companion member 30. If now insertedin an opening 4-1 in the rear face of the lock (see Fig. 7 of thedrawings) and through the notch 40 in the edge of said opening, this keymember will encounter the pin tumblers and move one or more of themagainst the support 35, moving said support inwardly against the tensionof its springs and moving the stop 36 from the path of movement of therib 38 so that the latter may be moved further in the same direction asthat of unlocking movement thereof. The key member 29 is now used tothus rotate the plug, a slight distance further in the said directionand until said member 29 is opposite a releasing notch 42 for saidmember in the rear of the face of the lock case and as shown in Figure9.

This final rotation of the plug in an unlocking direction places the keymember 30 in registering position with a notch 43 in the edge of thehole into the escutcheon, so that said member 30 may be removed from theplug. Another key member, of the same general characteristics butdifferently T Fig. 12 its bits will cease to act upon the leaf tumblers22 and the latter will be returned by their springs to their normalpositions, as shown in said figure, and the fingers 23 of the guards 24%will move the latter so that said guards together with the fingers willbe arranged ,in line. In this position of the parts the key member 30may be readily withdrawn from the key center or plug without obstructionby the leaf tumblers.

A key member difierently bitted being new inserted in the plug andturned backwardly the leaf tumblers will be caused to assume relativepositions determined by bits on the key member, and the relativelocations of the guards 24 will be changed accordingly, and beforeengagement of the notches in the edges of the guards with a blade 45projecting from the edge of the chamber in the case (see Figs. 10 to12), which blade maintains the guards in their relative positions duringthe time that the fingers 23 are disengaged from the notches in the leaftumblers. It will be understood that the steps or bits in the edges ofdifferent keymembers are all so formed that one of the notches in theedge of each guard will always be in line to receive the blade 45. Whenthe plug is thus moved backwardly as just described the rounded edge ofthe rib 38 will encounter the tumblers 20 and depress them to permitsuch backward movement.

It is thus seen, from the foregoing description, that the two-part keyis employed to unlock the lock, and that the key member 29 in thepossession of the custodian is used. to place the plug in position topermit removal of the key member 30 when the leaf'tumblers are engagedwith the guards. This therefore will be done only with the knowledge ofthe custodian and any unauthorized person is therefore prevented frommaking the change. YVhen the leaf tumblers and guards are thus engagedthe insertion of a differently bitted key, and the turning of said keybackwardly to its normal position, will change the positions of the leaftumblers and of the guards to accord with the bits on said key, and thelatter may thereafter be used to operate the lock mechanism untilanother change in the leaf tumbler combination is made.

I claim- 1. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member adapted toreceive a twopart key, tumblers adapted to be positioned by both partsof said key in said member to control operations of the lock mechanism,means operated by one part of said key to pe mi t excess movement ofsaid key receiving member to a tumbler changing position, and

means to permit insertion of a new key part in said key receiving memberwhen in said position.

2. A look mechanism including a key re ceiving member adapted to receivea twopart key, tumblers adapted to be positioned by both parts of saidkey in said member to control operations of the locking mechanism, alock case in which said mechanism is located, means operated by one partof said key insertable through the back of said case to permit excessmovement of said key receiving member to a tumbler changing position,and means to permit insertion of a new key part in said key receivingmember through the front of the case.

3. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member, tumblers adaptedto be positioned by a key in said member to control operations of thelock mechanism, means operated by a key in said key receiving member topermit excess movement of said member to a tumbler changing position,and means to permit insertion of a key in said member when in saidposition.

4:. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member, tumblers adaptedto be positioned by a key in said member to control operations of thelock mechanism, a case within which said mechanism is located, key meansinsertable in said key center through an opening in the rear of the caseto efiect excess movement of said key receiving memher to a tumblerchanging position, and means to permit insertion of a key in said memberwhen in said position.

5. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member operable by atwo-part key having its parts separably connected and insertable in saidmember, tumblers adapted to be positioned by one of the key parts tocontrol operations of the lock mechanism, means operated by the otherkey part after separation from the first mentioned key part to effectexcess movement of said key receiving member to a tumbler changingposition, and. means to permit removal and insertion of a key part ofthe first mentioned type 1n said member when in said position.

6. A look mechanism including a key receiving member operable by atwo-part key having its parts separably connected and insertable in saidmember, tumblers adapted to be positioned by one of said key parts tocontrol operations of the lock mechanism, a case in which said mechanismis located, means operated by the. other key part after separation fromthe first mentioned key part inserted through an opening in the rear ofthe case to effect excess movement of said key receiving member to atumbler changing position, and means to' permit insertion of a key partof the first mentioned type in said member through the front of the casewhen in said tumbler changing position.

7. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member, operable by atwo-part key having its parts separably connected and insertable in saidmember, tumblers adapted to be positioned by a key part in said memberto control operations of the lock mechanism, means operative by a keypart after separation from the first mentioned key part in said memberto efiect excess movement of said key receiving member to a tumblerchanging position, and means to permit insertion ota key part of thefirst mentioned type in said key receiving member when in said position.

8. A lock mechanism including a key re ceiving member operable by atwo-part key having its parts separably connected and insertable in saidmember. tumblers adapted to be positioned by a key part in said memberto control operations of the lock mechanism, a lock case in which saidmechanism is located, means operable by a key part after separation fromthe first mentioned key part in said key receiving member through therear of the case to permit excess movement of said key receiving memberto a tumbler changing position, and means to permit insertion of a keypart of the first mentioned type in said key receiving member when insaid position.

9. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member adapted to receivea two-part key, tumblers adapted to be positioned by both parts of saidkey in said member to control operations of the lock mechanism, a stopmovably mounted to limit operation of said key receiving member innormal locking and unlocking operations of the lock mechanism, meansoperable by one part of said key to remove said stop from the path ofsaid key receiving member to permit positioning of the latter for atumbler changing operation, and means to permit insertion of a new keypart in said member when in said position.

10. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member adapted to receivea two-part key, tumblers adapted to be positioned by both parts of saidkey in said member to control operations of the lock mechanism, a

movably mounted support, a stop on said sup port located in the path ofmovement of said key receiving member in normal locking and unlockingoperations of the lock mechanism, means operable by one part of said keyto move said support and said stop from the path of said key receivingmember to permit the latter to be positioned for a tumbler changingcombination, and means to permit insertion of a new key partin said keyreceiving member when in said position.

11. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member having pintumblers therein, other tumblers adapted to be positioned by a key insaid member to control operations of the lock mechanism, a supportmovably mounted, a stop located on said support, the latter beinglocated for movement by said pin tumblers when the key center is in oneposilocking and unlocking operations of the lock,

means to permit insertion of a key in said key center to efi'ect excessmovement of said pin tumblers to operate said support to remove saidstop from the path of movement of said member for excess movement ofsaid key receiving member to a tumbler changing position, and means topermit insertion of a key in said key receiving member when in saidposition.

13. A lock mechanism including a key receiving member, pin tumblerslocated in said member, a two-part key insertable in said member, othertumblers adapted to be positioned by a key in said member to control operations of the lock mechanism, a case within which said mechanism islocated, a movably mounted. support, a stop on said support located inthe path of said key receiving member to limit its movement in normallocking and unlocking operations, means to permit insertion of one ofsaid key parts in said member to move a pin tumbler against said supportand thereby remove the stop from the path of said key receiving memberbut retain it in the path of movement of a pin tumbler,

and means to permit insertion of a key in said key receiving member whenin said position.

1 1. A look including a key receiving member adapted to receive throughone end there of both parts of a two-part key and through the other endonly one of said parts, tumbler lock mechanism operated by both parts ofsaid key when jointly received through one end of said member, and meansoperated by the one part of the key when received through the secondmentioned end of said member to permit change of the tumbler setting ofsaid mechanism.

' 15. A tumbler type of lock mechanism including a key receiving membermovable be- 1 tween predetermined limits for normal looking andunlocking operations of the tumbler mechanism and to a position beyondone of said limits for changing the tumbler setting of said mechanism,and means operated by a device positioned in said key receiving memberto permit movement of said member to said tumbler setting changingposition.

16. A tumbler type of lock mechanism in- I eluding a key receivingmember movable be- 1 tween predetermined limits for normal looking andunlocking operations of the tumbler mechanism and to a position beyondone of said limits for changing the tumbler setting of said mechanism, amovable stop for limiting the normal movement of said member in onedirection, and means positioned in said key receiving member for movingsaid stop to permit the member to be moved to said tum bler settingchanging position.

17. A tumbler type of lock mechanism including a key receiving membermovable between predetermined limits for normal locking and unlockingoperations of the tumbler mechanism, and to a position beyond one ofsaid limits for changing the tumbler setting of said mechanism, amovable stop for limiting the normal movement of said member in onedirection, said stop being movable to permit movement of the keyreceiving member into said tumbler setting changing position byactuation of certain of the tumblers of said mechanism, and means insaid key receiving member formed to receive a key for actuating saidlast mentioned tumblers.

18. A look mechanism including a key receiving member, a set of tumblersin said member operable by a key to control normal movement of saidmember and to permit its movement to an excessive degree to permitremoval of a key from said member to be replaced by another key, and aset of bolt controlling tumblers to be operated by said last mentionedkey.

19. A lock mechanism including a key re ceiving member operable by atwo-part key having its parts separately connected and inserted in saidmember, tumblers adapted to be positioned by one of the key parts tocontrol operations of the lock mechanism, means operated by the otherkey part retained in said member after separation from the firstmentioned key part to effect excessive movement of said key receivingmemher to a tumbler changing position, means for preventing removal ofsaid other key part until said member has been placed in its keychanging position, and means to permit removal and insertion of a keypart of the first mentioned type in said member When in said position.

GEORGE ALEXANDER LONG.

